Monthly Archives: July 2015

New products can be confusing: directions can sometimes be tricky, or devices may not work the way that they seem. This is why we try to provide as much technical support for our products as possible. We provide clients with the expert support of our engineers to ensure that our products run smoothly in their hands.

Our technical support engineer, Matt, tends to get asked certain questions more often than others. So from time to time, we like to compile these questions for easy access to our customers. Here are a few:

I am trying to setup my device using Internet Explorer but it is not working. What can you recommend? Avoid using Internet Explorer to setup devices that use a web configuration page. I recommend Google Chrome.

How can I obtain a copy of the product CD for my device?
All of the CDs we include with our products are available on our website. Visit GridConnect.com, find your product on the website, and the CD as well as other useful materials will be located under “Documentation.”

For the NET232, NET485, NetDirect products, and Lantronix products, where can I find the latest version of Device Installer or Com Port Redirector (CPR)?
Those are available on the Lantronix website at http://www.lantronix.com/support/downloads/.

Where can I find the latest version of VCOM for ATC products? Where can I find the right version for my operating system?
Those can be found on the product page on the ATC website at http://www.szatc.com/.

Why is the signal blocked on my RS232 Module? On the RS232 modules, be sure to use a null modem instead of a gender changer, otherwise it will block the signal.

How do I connect my RS485 serial lines to a computer? RS485 requires either an RS485 to USB or RS485 to RS232 adapter to connect to a computer

Specific questions for the Chiyu CYT-133SC:

Why won’t the Peer-to-Peer I/O function work on my device?
That I/O function requires a firmware update be performed on the CYT-133SC. This can be done pretty easily through the web configuration page. The firmware files and instructions can be obtained by sending an email request tosupport@gridconnect.com or by calling the office.

Does each unit control the other in Peer-to-Peer?
Yes, the I/O control works in both directions.

Jack Mousseau is our development intern at the office this summer. Jack got connected to Grid Connect through an OpenHack Naperville meetup. There, he met Adam Justice, VP of Grid Connect, who was impressed by the app that Jack presented during the meetup. Adam later offered Jack the opportunity to work for Grid Connect this summer (coincidentally he found out later that their parents were actually close family friends). Jack’s main project has been to help the Grid Connect development team create an Apple Watch version of the ConnectSense app, however he has also done a lot of work with product testing and cleaning up the remaining bugs on the Smart Outlet.

This fall, Jack will be starting school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where he will be studying computer science and mathematics. He has liked working at Grid Connect because it has given him an experience he hasn’t had before “Last summer I worked at Fermilab, which was cool, but my work was only a fraction of what the end goal will look like” Jack said, “Here I’ve been able to see a finished product come out of my work. It’s really satisfying.”

In his free time, Jack enjoys biking, playing soccer and attending the OpenHack IOS developers group in Naperville and Chicago.

A Complete Development Partner for Hardware, Software, Apps and Cloud Services

Grid Connect Inc. has one of the best engineering teams in the world. Our strong development team can quickly and effectively implement your partial or complete networking/cloud-based or embedded product. For more than 20 years we have been helping customers put networking technology into their products. In the past the focus has been Ethernet, serial and propriety networks. Now days, the focus is on wireless networks like Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Bluetooth/BLE and 900 MHz.

A few of Grid Connect’s many development capabilities include:

Designing, layout and quick turn prototype hardware

Designing, programming and debugging embedded software

Designing and building iOS and Android smart phone and tablet applications

Designing, building and rolling out complete cloud/web applications

Embedded Linux or Real-time OS driver development

SSL security and hardware and software encryption option

Production of custom hardware

Embedded Web page development

Pre-loading of custom/customer firmware on to standard modules

Complete diagnostic testing of hardware and software prior to shipment

Work with test labs to complete FCC, CE, UL, and RoHS certifications

Custom labeling

The ConnectSense Case Study

With the ConnectSense brand of products, we took Grid Connect’s embedded networking expertise and put it to use in the consumer home automation/Internet of Things marketplace. In creating ConnectSense, we built a full end-to-end solution, which incorporated custom hardware, embedded Linux development, a custom cloud solution, and custom enclosures and sensors.

Since releasing ConnectSense to the market in 2013, we have continued to move our technology forward. With the ConnectSense Smart Outlet we have made great strides in easy setup and provisioning of devices, smaller and more affordable designs and development of apps for iOS. The ConnectSense Smart Outlet also represents the first generation of devices that are Apple HomeKit-enabled allowing for great features such as Siri voice control, end-to-end encryption and ease of use.

The ConnectSense product line allows Grid Connect to prove out its technology at scale and improve it over time. This allows us to then take that same great technology and help customers implement IoT solutions in their own products. Rather than starting from scratch, our customers benefit from our wealth of knowledge developing IoT products. This allows for quick time to market, lower cost implementations and less custom work required on projects.

To discuss development partner solutions for your company, please call the Grid Connect office at +1 (800) 975-GRID or fill out the form here.

The CloudGate Kits (Serial, Ethernet, WiFi) provided by Grid Connect are comprised of all the CloudGate components required to move local data to the cloud via 3G/LTE cellular data.

The CloudGate Gateway provides cost effective Local Area Network (LAN) to Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) routing with GPS functionality built in. The CloudGate base unit is a compact, reliable, secure, and flexible solution to move critical data to the cloud. The CloudGate Gateway supports both 3G and 4G LTE wireless data interfaces and is certified on all major US cellular networks.

The Gateway is also easy to configure locally or remotely from a PC, tablet or Smartphone. CloudGate automatically resolves common problems associated with wireless machine to machine connectivity. Built-in software and hardware watchdogs continuously monitor each component of the product and its connectivity to home servers. In the event an issue is detected, the product proactively takes steps to re-establish connectivity. All software and configuration images are protected with digital signatures and have dual rollback images that allow the product to revert to previous working settings if an issue is detected. All management functions are protected by certificate and/or password based security mechanisms and all management actions take place over hardware-assisted encrypted links.

The CloudGate Gateway is supported by the CloudGate Universe provisioning system. An automated cloud provisioning system means that each CloudGate can be set with its own custom configuration and image that is automatically loaded from the cloud when the unit initially connects to the Internet.

For more information, and ordering options visit our website by clicking here.

Joe Duncan is one of the summer interns here at Grid Connect. He has worked on writing many of our recent blog posts as well as had a hand in our social media presence. In addition, he has spent some time weeding through the Grid Connect website to look for better ways to get across our message.

Joe is a senior at Taylor University where he is studying writing with a minor in philosophy. He heard about Grid Connect through Mary Miller, a family friend, and started working with us this past May. Joe has enjoyed his first few weeks at Grid Connect, and feels like he is getting to experience a great variety of opportunities. “I get to be a part of so many different elements of the company,” Joe said, “It’s almost like a family.”

When he isn’t working at Grid Connect, Joe likes playing golf, going camping and reading classic literature.

Tech companies are known for their in-office perks — ping pong tables, beer Fridays and other fun stuff. Some tech companies offer great vacation policies, too, and require employees to take time away from work to unplug and relax. Companies use these policies to attract and retain top talent — and help employees find balance.

The High-Flying A11 modules are design for high performance applications normally, using 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet, and local serial ports. The A11 is available in two formats – SMT (surface mount) and DIP (2x7pins). A11 integrates an Ethernet and Wireless MAC, a baseband processor, a RF transceiver along with a power amplifier. The on-board software includes a complete Wi-Fi protocol, configuration utility and networking stack. Applications include access points, routers, serial to Ethernet, serial to Wi-Fi, Ethernet to Wi-Fi bridging and many others.The A11 integrates all Wi-Fi functionality into a low-profile SMT or DIP module package that can be easily mounted on a printed circuit board. The different A11 modules connect to antennas using the local chip antenna (INT), external antennas through the standard IPEX/U.FL connector, or directly through the on-board SMA connectors.